[01] Aktag's statements show that Turkey is behind Ertugruloglu's
"proposal" for annexation

Under the title "What will you say for this Mr Akinci?" columnist
Mert Ozdag in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (10.10.17)
assesses statements made to Turkish Milliyet newspaper by Recep Akdag,
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, who
commenting self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu's views,
has reportedly said that the "demand" for annexing the occupied area of
Cyprus to Turkey is on the table. Ozdag writes: "Thus, hours later it is
shown that Tahsin Ertugruloglu spoke in the name of other centres and
not 'for himself'! The wish for annexation to Turkey is at the table,
he said. Who has asked this? […] Is it Mr Tahsin? Let him go and be
annexed. He can even abandon the island. That means that you have been
lying to the whole world and mainly to the UN for so many years! Have
you not said that your position was the bi-communal federation? What
will our so-called federalist president Mustafa Akinci say for these
statements? Will he say anything? […]"

Meanwhile, journalist Ulas Baris on Turkish Cypriot GAK TV news portal
(09.10.17, http://www.gaktv.com/ulas-baris-yazdi-sorunlar-var-diye/)
recalls that Ertugruloglu had said: "From now on we want to negotiate
on the basis of confederation and not federation. We can try for the
international recognition of the TRNC. The second option is an autonomous
republic, like the model of France-Monaco." Noting that Aktag argued that
"within the framework of this and similar ideas, Turkey and the TRNC will
sit and decide for a political solution now", the columnist says that we
could read this statement in two ways: 1) Work in the direction of the
breakaway regime recognition and 2) A model of autonomy, like Monaco,
Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Dubai, Taiwan or Nakhijevan, which means "semi
annexation of the north part of Cyprus". The columnist adds the following:

"[…] We are skipping over the first option because we have been seeing
for 40 years that is an unrealistic desire. Therefore, let us receive
as a direct message Milliyet's title that 'annexation is on the table'
and look at the second way of reading. Because, in this situation
it is shown that Mr Tahsin is actually his master's voice. Actually,
after Akdag's statement it is clearly evident that Mr Tahsin, for whom
all political figures said everything during last week, is only an
'ambassador' and that Turkey is behind these ideas. In this situation,
those who talk about the puppet should talk about the puppeteer as well,
but when we consider about the approaching elections, it is, of course,
expected for them to say 'let us not fall out with Ankara'. […] You
remember that Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made a very crucial statement
in the past. What was that? 'The citizens from Turkey living in the
island are not adequately represented in the parliament'. If we look at
the proportion of our population (we do not know statistically, but we
know the calculation by the eye), it is evident that this proportion has
been spoiled in favor of the citizens from Turkey. In this situation,
either we want it or not, the number of those [of them] who will be
elected in the TRNC parliament will increase. […] Thus, we understand
that the view expressed few months ago by Metin Munir that 'Ataturk added
Alexandretta to Turkey and Erdogan will add Cyprus', is not wrong. […]
Moreover, this situation which will be probably created, will be 100% in
harmony with the fact that the north is internationally seen as Turkey's
'subordinate administration'. […]

Now, you will say what the Greek Cypriots will say for this? I can
guarantee you that the Greek Cypriots are ready from yesterday for
an agreed separation. They can explain this very well to the people,
in return of Varosha, the half of Morfou and the compensation of the
properties in the north. […] Moreover, instead of the Turkish side
(Turkey) causing problems in the south of the island with America, Italy
or France, it is very likely to abandon its rights on these gas reserves
and be directed to gas reserves which probably exist in the north. I do
not think that the Greek Cypriots will say no to this.

The last statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that
'the negotiations for federation ended' and the subsequent statement that
'we are obliged to negotiate again for a political solution' point to
a negotiation in this direction. […]"

Columnist Ali Kismir in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (10.10.17)
assesses statements made to Turkish Milliyet newspaper by Recep Akdag,
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, who
alleged that they will discuss the annexation of the occupied area of
Cyprus by Turkey. Kismir writes the following:

"[…] The rhetoric used by Aktag is a clear illustration of the project
implemented in the north part of the island for 40 years. First
a military intervention was carried out. Then, a crime of war was
committed by transferring population. Now, they are taking from our
hand all our strategic institutions one after another. […] There is a
Minister responsible for Cyprus in the cabinet established in Turkey. […]
We are anyway bound to Turkey. […] It pays the salaries of our civil
servants. It has the majority of population. We are using its monetary
unit. Naturally, we are bankrupting with it and rise with it. Today,
almost all Cypriots are miserable because of the rise of STG. Why? Is
it because of Tahsin Ertugruloglu's statement that 'we will strike'? Or
is it because of Turkey's unstable foreign policy? Think about it,
we are victimized the most because Turkey is unstable in its foreign
policy. Have you ever asked yourself 'why are we influenced from this
situation […]?' The answer is very simple, because we are bound to
Turkey. Or more correctly, we are under Turkey's occupation. Therefore,
I am not angry for Akdag and those who talk like him. On the contrary,
I demand the increase of this kind of statements. So that the fraud to
end. Turkey's real intention is to be disclosed. […] Everyone who says
today that 'Turkey wants a solution on this island' supports Turkey's
policy for Cyprus. That is, it means that he accepts to become Turkey's
82nd province. We say that the current order of things is anyway the
82nd province and we are struggling for it to change. […]"

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci: "There is no rule that says that we must do everything the
way Turkey does it"

According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.10.17), Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci, who was at the "TRNC parliament" this morning
as part of a series of visits he has started to "state and government
institutions", met with the self-styled speaker of the assembly Sibel
Siber.

Speaking during the visit, Akinci said that he planned to visit "state
and government institutions" when he found the opportunity in an effort
to establish closer relations and dialogue with these "institutions".

Touching upon the issue of not switching to daylight saving time,
Akinc? said that the issue had once again divided the Turkish Cypriot
society.

He expressed the view that this sensitive issue must be taken up and
discussed by the "parliament" and added: "As I have said before this issue
must be taken up and discussed according to scientific data. This issue
must not only be discussed by the government but must also be debated
in parliament. I would like to say one thing clearly, there is no rule
that says that we must do everything the way Turkey does it. We must do
things which suit the conditions of the country best. There is nothing
to misunderstand from what I am saying".

According to illegal Bayrak television (online,
http://www.brtk.net/caglar-ve-ozcenk-akpa-toplantilari-icin-strazburgda/,
10.10.17), Mehmet Caglar, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party
(CTP), and Erdal Ozcenk, "deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP),
are currently in Strasbourg to attend the meetings of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The "deputies", who will attend the meetings of the permanent committees
of PACE and the political groups meetings, will also carry out contacts
with Deputies who are taking part at the plenary session of PACE. They
will continue their contacts until October 13.

According to a written statement by the "TRNC representative office" in
Strasbourg, Caglar, who took the floor at the first day of the Plenary
Session of the PACE, asked the following question to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs Lubomir Zaoralek of the Czech Republic, which holds the
chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE:

"On the one hand, while a closely united stance is exhibited by the member
countries of the Council of Europe within the framework of values like
democracy, human rights and the superiority of law; on the other hand,
it has been observed that while the project unifying Europe in almost
every field, particularly in the political, cultural and political areas,
has been going on for years now, the ultra-nationalist and separatist
movements in some European countries have been increased. Where have you,
as European countries, made a mistake and how should we take measures
against these movements?"

Czech Minister Zaoralek said that these movements are gaining ground and
expressed his concern on the rise of the right-wing parties. However, he
added that it is important that in the struggle against these movements,
the non-governemental organizations, together with political parties to be
incorporated and the Council of Europe to continue its work in this area.

It is expected that Caglar will address the open session on
Friday. Moreover, it is expected that Ozcenek will ask separate questions
to Czech President Milos Zeman and PACE General Secretary Thorbjorn
Jagland, who will address the plenary session today.

(DPs)

[05] Reactions by KTOS and KTOEOS against the "transferring of teachers
from Turkey"

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (10.10.17) under the front-page
title "The teachers are working as intelligence agents", reports that
the "general secretary" of the "Turkish Cypriot teacher's trade union"
("KTOS") Sener Elcil, commenting on the latest reports saying that
the Turkish Ministry of National Education has announced in its website
that 167 teachers from Turkey would be "assigned" in 18 "school units"
in the "TRNC", evaluated in the paper this development, stressing that
the majority of the Turkish teachers that will be sent to the "TRNC",
are working for the "intelligence".

"The main goal of the transferring of the teachers from Turkey is this",
Elcil said, adding that the main goal of these teachers will be to
prepare and sent to the "Turkish embassy" reports every week.

Elcil pointed out also that Turkey's Ministry of National Education
which administrates the "religious orders" in Turkey follows and acts
according to "reactionary tendencies". The aim of the Turkish Education
Ministry is to spread to the "northern part" of the island vindictive
and religious practices, Elcil stated.

Elcil further stressed the need for the "unemployed teachers" to file a
"legal action" to the "court", adding that the "trade unions" are ready
to support them.

Also speaking, Selma Eylem, chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot secondary
schools' teacher's union" ("KTOEOS"), stressed that the majority of the
teachers to be sent from Turkey, are working and acting according to
the "orders" of the "Turkish embassy" in the "TRNC". Eylem described
the "transferring of Turkish teachers" to the "TRNC" as a part of the
"practices of impositions" followed by Turkey.

Eylem further added that "Turkey is undertaking steps for the annexation
of the northern part of the island". She then called the Turkish Cypriot
community to revolt against Turkey's practices.

(AK)

[06] Criticisms against UBP regarding the privatization of the occupied
airport of Tymbou

The main issue in today's Turkish Cypriot newspapers is the debate in
the "parliament" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus
regarding the report on "Ercan airport" (occupied airport of Tymbou)
written by the "investigation committee of the parliament".

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.10.17) reports that the
opposition political parties criticized harshly the political party UBP
(National Unity Party), which was again in "power" when the airport was
privatized, stating that the privatization did not happen correctly and
the "state" lost millions of dollars.

Tufan Erhurman, addressing the "parliament", said that they will submit
a proposal to ask for investigation regarding the privatization of the
airport and all the persons involved. He added that if their proposal
is rejected then, they will ask from the "police" to arrest all those
who omitted their duties.

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (10.10.17) reports that the
target of the report is the "foreign minister" Tahsin Ertugruloglu,
who used to be at that time "minister of transport". Erhurman accused
Ertugruloglu of acting light-hearted and as a result he damaged the
"state". Ertugruloglu argued that the criticism against him is unjust
and wonders why the "state" was damaged. He also claimed that Turkey
sent him the lawyer Omer Elmas, as "the person who knows the job". Later,
it was proved that Elmas was partner in the company that would have made
inspections at the airport.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.10.17) reports that the
"Turkish Cypriot doctor's union" which is a member of the European
Federation of Salaried Doctors since 2014, attended the meeting of the
Federation which took place in Malaga between October 6-7.

Also, according to the same paper, two "representatives" of the "Faculty
of health sciences" of the illegal Near East "university", Prf. Dr. Umran
Dal Yilmaz and Prof. Dr. Nurhan Bayraktar, "represented" the illegal
university at the "13th International Congress of the European Union
Geriatric Medicine- Society-Developing Preventive Action Geriatric". The
congress took place in Nice, France.

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 09.10.17) reports that tension
between Ankara and Washington escalated to unprecedented levels on Oct. 9,
with the arrest of U.S. Consulate staff members and a mutual suspension
of visa services added to the list of ongoing disputes between the two
NATO allies.

Last week's arrest of a Turkish employee of the U.S. Consulate in
Istanbul triggered the latest deterioration, with the US Embassy in
Ankara saying on Oct. 8 that it would stop issuing visas for tourism,
medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.

The Embassy said "recent events" have forced the U.S. government to
reassess Turkey's "commitment" to the security of U.S. mission services
and personnel in the country.

Later in the day, Turkey announced suspension of all non-immigrant visa
services at all Turkish diplomatic facilities in the U.S., in retaliation
for the US decision to suspend all non-migrant visa services at its
diplomatic facilities in the country.

The Turkish Embassy in Washington issued two almost word-for-word copies
of the U.S. statement in both English and Turkish.

A Turkish official told the Hurriyet Daily News that U.S. Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson had not mentioned the visa suspension during an
Oct. 7 phone conversation with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Meanwhile, Ankara has reportedly been working to convince Washington
to reverse its decision to halt the issuing of all regular visas at
U.S. Consulates in Turkey. Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy
in Ankara Philip Kosnett was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry
on the morning of Oct. 9 amid the tension.

The move comes at a time when relations between the two allies are going
through severe turbulence, amid the arrest of Istanbul Consulate staff
member Metin Topuz late on Oct. 4 over espionage charges and alleged
links with some leading members of the Gulen network, accused of being
behind last year's failed coup attempt.

According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Topuz is
accused of talking on the phone with Zekeriya Oz, a fugitive former
prosecutor who was dismissed from his post, and four former Gulenist
police officers, Yakup Sayg?l?, Nazmi Ard?c, Mahir Cakall? and Mehmet
Akif Uner, before the December 2013 corruption probes.

Later on Oct. 9, Turkish authorities reportedly issued a detention
warrant for a second U.S. Consulate worker who was allegedly hiding at
the Consulate compound.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated on Oct. 9 that it
has invited a Consulate staff member at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul
to testify as a suspect.

"The man, who is a staff member at the U.S. Consulate Istanbul and
does not have 'diplomatic immunity,' has been invited to the Chief
Public Prosecutor's Office for his testimony," the prosecutor's office
stated. It added that the suspect's wife and child have already been
detained in the Black Sea province of Amasya.

Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said that if Washington had any security
concerns about its missions in Turkey, steps would be taken to address
them. "I hope the U.S. will review its decision," Gul said in a televised
interview, adding that Turkey is "open to pursuing judicial cooperation"
with the U.S. but stressing that the government would not intervene in
judicial decisions.

The arrest of a Turkish citizen suspect over an incident that took place
in Turkey is the "right" of the country, Gul also said, adding that there
is no arrest procedure regarding other personnel of the U.S. consulate
in Istanbul.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 10.10.17)
reports that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that the
U.S.' decision to suspend visa services at its missions in Turkey was
"very upsetting".

Speaking at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro
Poroshenko in Kiev, Erdogan said that Turkey is governed by the rule of
law, and is not "a tribe", referring to the arrest of U.S. Consulate
employee. The President said he told foreign ministry officials that
the Turkish Embassy in Washington should issue the same statement as the
U.S. in accordance with the principle of reciprocity to halt visas from
the U.S.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (online, 09.10.17) reports that
the U.S. on Monday clarified its decision to suspend non-immigrant visa
operations at its diplomatic facilities in Turkey, emphasizing that it
only applies to the consideration of new visa applications.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass, in a statement, said: "Our local
staff members are Turkish citizens and we, of course, expect them to
observe Turkish law like any other citizen of the Republic. They have
a right to expect that the Turkish authorities will provide appropriate
legal protections and due process, including the presumption of innocence
until proven otherwise, in accordance with the Turkish Constitution,
and the principles of rule of law that all modern democracies follow".

He noted that this was not a decision the U.S. took lightly and it was
taken "with great sadness".

However, Turkey's Justice Minister on Monday slammed the U.S. Ambassador
to Turkey's statement on the arrest of a local U.S. Consulate employee
in Istanbul, calling it improper for a diplomat.

On Friday, John Bass criticized the U.S. employee's arrest, saying it
was motivated by "revenge rather than justice". "This is not a statement
fitting a diplomat," Abdulhamit Gul told news station A Haber.

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 09.10.17), the
Turkish Lira slid 2.4% and stocks tumbled as much as much as 4.5% early
on Oct. 9 after the United States and Turkey cut back visa services,
signalling a sharp regression in relations between the two NATO allies.

The Turkish currency was hit and stood at 3.7 against the dollar, rising
from 3.6160 at the close on Oct. 6. It was quoted as having touched a
level of 3.9223 overnight.

The lira also plunged to historic lows against the euro, hitting 4.49
early on Oct. 9 before recovering to 4.33 later.

According to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 10.10.17), Turkey's
Foreign Ministry slammed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) for awarding a senior Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) member
with a human rights prize on Monday.

A statement released by the Ministry said offering the Vaclav Havel
Human Rights Prize to Murat Arslan, the former president of the now
dissolved Association for the Union of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV),
was "wrong and unacceptable".

PACE announced earlier on Monday that the prize "has been awarded to
the Turkish supporter of the independence of the judiciary Murat Arslan."

Arslan has been detained as the result of evidence that revealed his
strong ties and membership to the FETO, which orchestrated the coup
attempt on July 15, 2016.

"Making such a mistake under the roof of an organization that is the
defender of the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of
law has seriously damaged the credibility of the PACE," the Ministry
statement read.

The Ministry also accused PACE of "aiding the circles that support
terrorism" and betraying "the ideals of democracy and human rights"
by presenting Arslan, a terrorism suspect, as a human rights defender.

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 10.10.17), an
Istanbul appeals court on Oct. 9 ordered a retrial for main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Enis Berberoglu, reversing a
previous ruling by a local court that ordered 25 years of imprisonment
in the case of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) trucks
bound for Syria. Berberoglu has been jailed for four months on espionage
charges.

An Istanbul regional court reversed the ruling of the 25-year prison
term for Berberoglu. The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court had ordered
the prison sentence on charges of "revealing secret information in terms
of the security of the state or for its domestic and external political
benefits with political or military espionage purposes."

The appeals court ruling came after Berberoglu's lawyers had issued an
application to the court for an examination into the case.

Accordingly, Berberoglu will be retried in the case as his criminal file
will also be sent to the previous court for review.

However, the appeals court ordered the continuation of the CHP deputy's
arrest, citing the status of current evidence and his potential to escape
while also ruling out any probation.

Meanwhile, his lawyers stated they would demand Berberoglu's release
after the appeals court ruling.